To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him. - Buddha

happiness is all around and it is for everyone. it is not as elusive as some people think it to be. author Bryan Cohen believes that it is within one's reach and explains why and how through his treasure trove of data gathered from his personal experiences, his readings and research. this book was an eye-opener for me. how i wished that it were already available when i was still in college and getting myself ready to face the world. i would probably have been better equipped but as the author asserts, it is not and never too late though and i agree with him. i liked the way everything is structured. there are eight chapters that provide a wealth of information and tips. each ends with doable "happiness workouts." however, the first step to any undertaking and achieving something is usually the hardest. so i personally feel that a thorough understanding of the first chapter and doing the exercises until they become second nature is critical before moving on to the next one and so on.i also liked the bibliography provided at the end of the book. among those listed, two are already in my personal library - Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. change does not happen overnight and it takes some time. success - whatever that means to you or me - can be achieved by a willingness and conscious effort on one's part. as i look back at the past and think about my future, i have realized that achieving a general feeling of happiness is really worth it. after all, i only have one life to live and it is my desire to make the most out of it by being happy no matter what.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i won a copy in a giveaway sponsored by the author